Vertical support system for musical instruments

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a vertical instrument support system for musical instruments.

We claim: 
     
       1. An instrument support system for supporting on a generally horizontal surface in an upright position leaning against a vertically extending support an instrument of the type having a body part having lower and upper ends with a support strap attachment protruding from the lower end and an elongated neck part extending from the upper end, the neck part ending further from the body in a head stock,
 the system comprising: 
 a horizontal support member consisting of a support member body having a first surface on which the instrument body part lower end rests and a second surface generally parallel to the first surfer which when the instrument is supported thereon rests on the generally horizontal surface, the member having a groove extending from the first surface towards the second surface and into which the support strap attachment can protrude without contacting the generally horizontal surface; 
 a vertical support collar comprising a collar body of generally annular shape with an outside surface and an inside opening therein through which the instrument neck part can be passed for the collar body to be mounted on and encompass the neck part, the inside opening having an inside engagable with a corresponding part of an outside surface of the neck part, the outside surface of the collar being able to engage a corresponding part of a generally vertical surface of the vertically extending support against which the instrument rests and thereby oppose slippage of the instrument away from the upright position during such engagement; and 
 a cap cover adapted to receive the instrument head stock therein to protect it when in contact with the vertically extending support and to inhibit slippage of the instrument away from the upright position during such contact; 
 wherein the cap cover is of sufficient size that when not in position on the head stock of the instrument it is large enough to contain the horizontal support member and the vertical support collar. 
 
     
     
       2. The support system of  claim 1 , wherein the groove in the horizontal support member is a bore extending from the first surface of the horizontal support member to the second surface thereof and the dimension of the horizontal support member from the first to the second surface is sufficient that the support strap attachment cannot contact the generally horizontal surface. 
     
     
       3. The support system of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is an acoustic or an electric guitar, and the vertical support collar is of soft material providing the inside and outside surfaces and has an insert enabling it to grip the guitar strings and mute them. 
     
     
       4. The support system of  claim 2 , wherein the horizontal support member is horizontally of annular shape. 
     
     
       5. The support system of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the first horizontal support member is of a non-slip material with a co-efficient of friction between itself and the horizontal surface on which it rests sufficient to arrest any movement by the member when the instrument is resting on the first surface; and
 wherein the outside surface of the second annular support member is also of a non-slip material with a coefficient of friction between itself and the part of the generally vertical surface against which it is to rest to oppose any movement between itself and that part of the generally vertical surface. 
 
     
     
       6. An instrument support system for supporting on a generally horizontal surface in an upright position leaning against a vertically extending support an instrument of the type having a body part having lower and upper ends with a support strap attachment protruding from the lower end and an elongated neck part extending from the upper end, the neck part ending further from the body in a head stock,
 the system comprising: 
 a first annular horizontal support member consisting of a support member body having a first surface on which the instrument body part lower end rests, a second surface which when the instrument is in upright position rests on the generally horizontal surface, and a bore extending from the first surface through to the second surface and into which the support strap attachment can protrude without contacting the generally horizontal surface; and 
 a second annular support comprising a vertical support collar comprising a collar body of annular shape with an outside surface and an opening therein through which the instrument neck part can be passed for the collar body to encompass the neck part and to be movable longitudinally thereon, the collar body having an inside surface at the inside of the opening for engaging a corresponding part of an outside surface of the neck part of the instrument, the outside surface of the collar being engagable with a corresponding part of a generally vertical surface of the vertically extending support against which the instrument rests and thereby opposing slippage of the instrument away from the upright position during such engagement; 
 the support system also comprising a cap cover adapted to receive the instrument head stock therein to protect the head stock and inhibit slippage of the instrument away from the upright position upon engagement of the cap cover with the vertically extending support, and wherein the cap cover is of sufficient size that when not in position on the head stock of the instrument it is large enough to contain the horizontal support member and the vertical support collar. 
 
     
     
       7. The support system of  claim 6 , wherein the instrument is an acoustic or an electric guitar, and the vertical support collar is of soft material providing the inside and outside surface and has an insert enabling it to grip the guitar strings and mute them. 
     
     
       8. The support system of  claim 6 , wherein the second surface of the first annular support member is comprised of a non-slip material with a co-efficient of friction sufficient between itself and the horizontal surface on which it rests to arrest any movement by the first support member on the horizontal surface once the instrument is placed on the support member; and
 wherein the second surface of the second annular support member is also comprised of a non-slip material with a coefficient of friction between itself and the part of the generally vertical surface against which it is to rest to oppose any movement between itself and that part of the generally vertical surface. 
 
     
     
       9. The support system of  claim 6 , wherein the horizontal support member is horizontally of annular shape. 
     
     
       10. An instrument support system for supporting on a generally horizontal surface an instrument in an upright position leaning against a vertically extending support an instrument of the type having a body part having lower and upper ends with a support strap attachment protruding from the lower end and an elongated neck part extending from the upper end, the neck part ending further from the body in a head stock;
 the system comprising: 
 a first annular horizontal member consisting of a support member body having a first surface on which the instrument body part lower end rests, a second surface generally parallel to the first surface which when the instrument is in upright position rests on the generally horizontal surface, and a groove extending from the first surface towards the second surface and into which the support strap attachment can protrude, the dimension of the horizontal support member from the first to the second surface being sufficient that the support strap attachment cannot contact the generally horizontal surface, and 
 a cap cover having an outside surface adapted to receive the instrument head stock therein to protect the head stock and inhibit slippage of the instrument away from the upright position upon engagement of the cap cover outside surface with the vertically extending support, 
 wherein the cap cover is of sufficient size that when not in position on the head stock it can contain the horizontal support member. 
 
     
     
       11. The support system of  claim 10 , wherein the second surface of the horizontal support member is of a non-slip material with a co-efficient of friction between itself and the horizontal surface on which it rests sufficient to arrest any movement by the member when the instrument is resting on the first surface. 
     
     
       12. The support system of  claim 10 , wherein the outside surface of the cap member is of a non-slip material with a coefficient of friction between itself and the part of the generally vertical surface against which it is to rest to oppose any movement between itself and that part of the generally vertical surface. 
     
     
       13. The support system of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal support member is horizontally of annular shape.